Share some news 

Christine and Julie have been working to add and label photos taken last Saturday evening. All photos can be viewed by selecting the "Photos" section of this web site from the menu above. Christine's message:

Hi all,

It was great to meet some of you at the 40th Reunion dinner on Saturday.

I took some photos during the evening... here is the link to about a third of them that I think are the best:

      http://www.classof76.net/cgi-bin/gallery?instanceID=2

Thanks to Julie for keeping me right with the names :-).

By default, the photos are displayed as small thumbnails. Select anyone to view a larger photo in a slideshow. Your computer should allow you to use the left and right arrow keys appropriately to move through the slideshow. Select outside the photo area to go back to view the thumbnails.

However, if you just want to view those photos that a certain person is in, before you go into the slideshow, use the option labelled 'Tag cloud' (below the 40th reunion main heading on the page) to view the list of names. Once you select a name, the page will refresh to display the thumbnails of the photos that person is in.

If you know I took a photo of you and it's not on the site and you'd like to see it, just email me and I'll forward it to you.

Or if you have any photos you'd like to add, please don't hesitate to forward to Julie (julie.smyth@classof76.net) or myself (christine@classof76.net). Or if you would like to add them to the site yourself, I can set up access for you, just say.

All the best, to the next time we meet, love,

Christine

BTW for those who don't recognise my name, I'm George Munroe's partner and, as you may have seen from the web site, been part of the Class of 76 running team since it started.

Presented on the night of the 40th reunion celebratory dinner on 1 October 2016 at Ramada Hotel, Belfast...

Forgive the intrusion... I'm Christine, George Munroe's partner... I'm a youngster here by all accounts. I'm 23 (not really, 54!)... but I think 23 (or thereabouts) is the age we all see ourselves in the inside!

With fear and trembling you've arrived all today.

Perhaps you're wondering would anyone recognise you... though surely to goodness "Julie Smyth" would. But more importantly...

• how would anyone remember you
• what embarrassing moments or photos would they expose
• would they think you look better now than you did then or vice aversa!

Then you may be wondering about your classmates, the ones that stood out, in those days "you thought would never end"... (George bet me I couldn't put lyrics into a song in this speech somewhere :-)...

• what came of the heart throb Michael Snoddy, would he still have that athletic physic and continue to excel in his sporting prowess
• what about "Dinger" Bell, was there any hope for him, would he be a dropout or would he surpass your expectations? or
• the reserved, nerdy George Munroe... would he be a stuffy professor (sorry for those that are! :-) or be a respected businessman or a bit of both?

Who knows?

Does it really matter!?

You've come a long way - 40 years - you've had your highs and lows - regrets and precious, cherished moments - victories and disappointments.

Maybe your school days were the best - or maybe for you the worst!

But, boy, hasn't 40 years gone fast!

No matter the life or the outcome - we are here to celebrate your lives - you've got thus far!

Sadly, some are no longer with us so, in our celebrations, we raise a glass to them and to you.

God bless you all,

Class of 76

For any of you who, for whatever reason, have not signed up for the 40 year reunion dinner on Saturday, please remember that you are still very welcome to join us at any stage without having dinner:

• come along to the school tour at 15:00 at front of school on Saturday
• have a drink with us in the Ramada before dinner from 17:00 on Saturday
• have a drink with us after dinner at the Ramada from around 21:30 (Green room)

No need to confirm, just turn up and surprise us!

I just recalled today that at the 30 year anniversary dinner quite a few photographs were taken and we managed to pull them together on Flickr using the "fslclassof76" tag. (We didn't have our own web site then).

You can still see all those photos using the following web address:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=FSLclassof76

Of course we've probably all slowed down a bit and won't be dancing around like that on Saturday. (Is that a challenge).

George

Friends School Lisburn
Class of 1976
40 year anniversary reunion

Plans are now in place for our 40th anniversary reunion:

Saturday 1 October 2016
18:30 for 19:00 dinner
RAMADA PLAZA BELFAST
117 Milltown Road
Shaws Bridge
Belfast
BT8 7XP IE
www.ramada.com/hotels/ireland/belfast/ramada-plaza-belfast/hotel-overview

We have booked a room with a set dinner menu, including several choices, which will be forwarded closer to the time.

Those travelling from outside Northern Ireland may wish to book accommodation in this hotel. The venue is close to walks along the river Lagan, Barnett Demesne, Minnowburn, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon park, Belvoir forest park.

If there is enough interest we can meet on Saturday afternoon for a walk and coffee at the Lock Keepers Inn, or any other agreeable activities during the weekend. Please also feel free to prepare an address for the class on any relevant subject if so inclined -- our entertainment on the evening will be self served! The hotel bar will also be available.

If you would like to bring your partner then they are very welcome!

We've agreed a set cost for the event at £35 per person to cover dinner courses and room booking. To confirm your place all you need to do is pay the £35 as soon as possible. You may do this online at:

www.paypal.me/mungeo

(Or if you prefer get back to us about an alternative method of payment).

I hope as many of you as possible can make it. Looking forward to seeing you all again!

Hope everyone is well!

Following a chat over coffee this morning, Michael, Adrian and I decided we should definitely try to mark the occasion of our 40th anniversary of leaving the old school and all going our separate ways. No doubt some of you have been thinking the same. We do not feel we have any monopoly in organising this, so if anyone would like to step up and do the honours then we'll help in whatever way we can. However in the event that the year just starts to slip away and any opportunity for a reunion bash with it, we thought we'd start the ball rolling and try and gauge the interest. We talked about a few possibilities this morning. So if you are interested in meeting that bunch you spent every working day with for seven of the most formative years of your life, then please indicate by replying to this message.

1. First we need to know how many of you might attend: yes or no and with or without a partner?
2. Then we need to know your preferred time: Friday, Saturday, what month?
3. And what about the venue: hotel, close to Belfast/Lisburn, golf club, anywhere else?
4. Mix with other activity options: walk, golf, hike, …?
5. Fancy staying overnight: a hotel close to airport, some possibly only joining for dinner, chatting over a drink to the wee hours, breakfast the next morning and time to talk to everyone?
6. Other thoughts?

Let us know, time is marching on! And if you know anyone from the class who doesn't receive this then please pass this message on and let us know their email address if possible.

Regards to all, George, Michael, Adrian

[Use the "Contact us" section above or email George, Michael or Adrian]

Julie and Clive got to the terrace outside Festival Hall at South Bank a little early and by the time Christine and I were arriving it had started to rain (in London, middle week of June, ugh). So Julie sent text to say they had moved inside.

I caught Julie at the bar and offered to carry drinks over to the table as she paid (I offered to do that also but she let me wait until later :-) but she refused to tell me exactly where Clive was sitting, insisting that I should go see if I recognised him after 38 years... in a massive hall that was jam packed with hundreds of people having a Friday evening drink or listening to a concert in the centre of the hall.

Well, guess what, I walked straight to him! Hasn't changed a bit!

That was the start of a very very enjoyable evening. Clive and I gave each other our past 38 years in a nutshell, amidst reminiscences of Hector Simpson's Latin classes and moving in and out of the "slums" or sitting on the front bench of Popeye's Chemistry class with Julie and wondering who was being asked the question... not too mention clandestine love notes that used to float around involving these two class mates (not me though!).

Rodney then arrived as we ordered another two bottles of the Pinot Grigio and caught up with him. Nice iPad :-). It's amazing how short a time 38 years can seem.

Of course, of prime importance to Clive was resolution of the third form History exam debacle, where he claimed I illegally pipped him at the post to first place in the form with 87% against his 84%, having gained that extra 3% from him as the answer to a question I hadn't completed myself! Needless to say, I don't mind sharing first place, and we have reached a confidential agreement on the matter and it may be publicised that Clive Noblett did achieve joint first place in the 1972 classof76 summer History exam with 84%. It's important.

We retired to a nearby restaurant. It was Julie's birthday so we let her choose her favourite steak house, which proved to be a good choice for us all. Rodney's Nora joined us shortly after that and to a shared mix of starters and sweets and delicious steak, we all thoroughly enjoyed the craic together over another bottle of white and one of red (at least).

Unfortunate that we couldn't have stayed longer as we were not short of things to talk about. I can assure all members of the class that some of your old classmates have had some very interesting jobs and been involved with some very important people. But then, you'll need to come along to dinner to find out more :-).

I'm really looking forward to the next one!

George

(PS sorry about the lousy quality of the photos, only had phone with us, a Nikon next time maybe).

On Tuesday 28 July, 2009, Julie managed to pull a small group together for a lovely evening over dinner alongside the Thames in Central London.

Barbara Frank, Brian Lavery, Timothy Smith, Rodney Turtle all made it following Julie's invitation as well as George Munroe and partner Christine, who were over at the time giving a course in London.

A few others of the London "classof76 chapter" had been invited but unfortunately were unable to make it due to other commitments. These included Clive Nobblett whom George desperately wanted to meet face to face to resolve a 37 year old dispute over a third form history exam result!

The evening included pre dinner drinks on the riverside terrace at Southbank, then a meal at a nearby restaurant with great views up and down the Thames, and a nightcap at a bar close by. All of this was accompanied by good craic and recollections of fond (or not so fond) memories of Friends School, and chat about where we have all ended up. Most enjoyable!

I can confirm that Julie and Barbara are as lovely as ever, Brian's jet black curls have faded slightly, Timothy exhibits commendable sartorial elegance these days, and Rodney is more athletic than I ever remember at school.

More photos in the Photos section.

(George, who had a great time)